Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 19. PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEMS

CHAPTER 6. HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICERS' RETIREMENT

Part 8. Service Credit

Application To Purchase Law Enforcement Service Performed In Another State

19-6-803. Application to purchase law enforcement service performed in another state. (1) (a) Subject to subsection (1)(b) and 19-6-805, a member may, at any time before retirement, file a written application with the board to purchase 1 year of out-of-state law enforcement employment for each year of service credit, unless the member is eligible to receive a retirement benefit in another system or plan for that same service.

(b) A member must have at least the following years of membership service to apply to purchase service credit under this section:

(i) for a member hired before July 1, 2013, 5 years; and

(ii) for a member hired on or after July 1, 2013, 10 years.

(2) To purchase this service credit, a member shall pay the actuarial cost of the service credit in the retirement system, as determined by the board, based on:

(a) the member's compensation for the 12 months immediately preceding the date of the member's election to purchase the service credit under the retirement system; and

(b) the actuarial rate in effect at the time of purchase of service credit.

(3) Service credit purchased under this section may not be used to qualify a member to purchase military service credit under 19-6-801.

(4) Service credit purchased under this section may not be used in calculating a member's retirement benefit unless the last 5 years of service credit were earned under the retirement system. If, upon retirement, a member's purchased service credit may not be used in calculating the member's retirement benefit, the member must receive a refund of the amount paid by the member to purchase the service credit, plus regular interest on that amount.

History: En. Sec. 1, Ch. 142, L. 1991; amd. Sec. 120, Ch. 265, L. 1993; Sec. 19-6-306, MCA 1991; redes. 19-6-803 by Code Commissioner, 1993; amd. Sec. 29, Ch. 58, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 54, Ch. 562, L. 1999; amd. Sec. 63, Ch. 99, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 67, Ch. 429, L. 2003; amd. Sec. 13, Ch. 272, L. 2013.